This ‘squat market’ in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta may change your view of 'squat markets'

The market is located in Vi Thanh Ward, Can Tho City. Unlike the image often associated with “squat markets” — where vendors sell spontaneously, encroach on roads and sidewalks, and sometimes charge inflated prices — this market is remarkably orderly, clean, orderly and well-organized.

The market covers less than 1,000 square meters and is arranged in a triangular layout alongside several traditional markets.

Vendors typically occupy small spaces of just 2–4 square meters, sitting on the ground or on small stools as they sell their goods.

It operates from late at night until around 9:00 am.

Interestingly, vendors do not have permanent spots. Those who arrive first set up first, while latecomers find whatever space remains.

Despite the informal arrangement, vendors rarely compete for space and generally sell alongside one another without disputes.

What immediately stands out is how neatly the market is organized.

Different sections are designated for dried goods, knives and kitchen utensils, vegetables and fruits, aquatic products, frogs and field rats.

Produce must remain within designated areas, while vendors and shoppers are reminded to keep walkways clear.

The market’s cleanliness is another notable feature. Waste collectors regularly sweep the area during market hours, helping prevent rubbish and unpleasant odors from building up.

For many vendors, the market is more than just a place to make a living. It is also where they bring whatever their gardens, fields and surrounding countryside provide.

Nguyen Thi Phung, who has sold at the market for about 20 years, said her merchandise changes from day to day depending on what she and her husband can harvest, catch or collect from their neighborhood.

Living about 20 kilometers from the market, the couple usually leaves home late at night and sell until around 9:00 am. Their goods are often sold out by the time the market closes.

That makes the market a particularly interesting destination for shoppers looking for rural specialties that are difficult to find elsewhere, including fiddlehead fern shoots, giac fruit, known as wild grapes, eggfruit, nan - a rustic Mekong Delta vegetable, field rats and frogs.

Cao Thi Thuy, 54, who has been selling at the market for around nine years, said regular reminders from market security staff have helped vendors develop a strong sense of responsibility about keeping their stalls in order.

The vendors’ approach to selling is also distinctly local. Much of the produce is harvested from home gardens and then peeled, bundled or weighed in advance , allowing customers to pick up what they want and pay without much fuss.

Some goods are kept in bags and brought out only when customers ask for them. Thuy said local shoppers are often familiar with such practices and know what to ask for.

Thuy Kieu, who lives about six kilometers away, regularly travels to the market even though there is a traditional market closer to her home.

She estimated that around 80 percent of the goods are agricultural products and rural specialties, which are particularly appealing to urban residents looking for fresh, locally sourced food.

Another attraction is the absence of aggressive bargaining. Kieu said shoppers can buy their goods comfortably without worrying about vendors inflating prices.

The market also retains a distinctly Mekong Delta character. Many of the female vendors wear traditional conical hats, both as a cultural feature and as practical protection from sun and rain.